Simply put, nominating popular movies and shows could make the Canadian Screen Awards more popular, which could theoretically bring more attention to other, less prominent nominees. There is some precedent for a regionally based award show with less-than-stringent eligibility rules: the BAFTA Award organizers, for instance, allow themselves significant leeway to decide which films are sufficiently British (their TV award restrictions are more rigid). It also separates the categories, with an award for Best Film and another for Outstanding British Film. But that hypothetical trickle-down of viewer attention doesn’t persuade many of this year’s Canadian Screen Award nominees that opening competition up to more American productions would work.